Seat belt system for automotive vehicles

ABSTRACT

The circuit of this invention provides a safety belt system for both shoulder and seat belts which require the driver and any passengers to positively fasten the seat and shoulder harness in a sequential manner in order for the automobile to be started. After the engine is started, disconnection of any belt or harness causes a buzzer or like alarm to be actuated. The circuit is shown as being operable with either of two relay systems. One system uses a latching relay the other uses a stepping relay.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

With reference to the classification of art as established in the UnitedStates Patent Office, this invention pertains to the general class of"Communications, Electrical" and to the subclasses directed toward"traffic and vehicle" and in particular to the subclasses of"automatically responsive to condition of vehicle" and also the furthersubclass "and controlling". Another pertinent subclass is that of"automatically responsive to condition" and in particular to "seatoccupancy".

The general class of "Motor Vehicles" is also pertinent as are thesubclasses of "safety devices" and particularly the subclass thereunderof responsive to "operator and passenger weight."

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are a large number of patents directed toward insuring that seatbelts, when installed in a vehicle, are used by the occupants thereof.Some of these patents such as the U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,993 issued toRECIO et al., on Apr. 8, 1969 are so designed that in addition to thesensing of a presence on a seat there in required a coupling of the seatbelt. Other systems like that provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,539 toFINK as issued on DEC. 19, 1969 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,714 to FARLEY asissued on June 10, 1969 attempt to provide a "foolproof" seat beltsystem. Insofar as is known, the above-identified systems and othersknown propose to employ not only a switch activated by the weight of apassenger but also require that the belt be buckled. Signals such asflashers, buzzers, etc., are used to call attention to the failure tofasten the belt and in some systems the starter solenoid is alsorendered inoperative unless the belt is fastened. These systems can bedefeated in their purpose by those who do not want to "buckle up". Toavoid the required coupling of the belt over the lap, the operator maydefeat the known systems by coupling the belt behind the seat or bycoupling the belt and then laying the coupled belt at the rear of theseat.

The present invention prevents this defeating of the system by using oneof two methods of relay systems, either of which must be actuated in adetermined sequence in order to energize the starter solenoid. In otherwords, the system of the present invention requires that when theoccupant of a seat leaves the seat, the seat belt and harness must bedisengaged and when the seat is reoccupied, the belt and harness must beopen or opened and then be connected. By using a belt retractor deviceis also becomes necessary that the seat belt and shoulder harness beextended sufficiently to go around or over an occupant so that switchcontacts are energized before the vehicle can be started. Thisarrangement makes it impossible for anyone to let his seat belt remainconnected behind the seat or incorporate any similar method forpermanently avoiding the proper use of the seat belt and harness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention may be summarized at least in part with reference to itsobjects. It is an object of this invention to provide, and it does soprovide, a circuit and system for vehicle equipped with safety beltsand, where desired, shoulder harness wherein the system requires apositive "buckling up" or connection of the seat belt and harness afterthe seat has been occupied by a driver and/or passenger or passengers.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide, and it doesprovide, a circuit and system for vehicles equipped with safety seatbelts and shoulder or like harness wherein the belts and harness cannotbe left connected as behind the seat so as to avoid "buckling up" in acontemplated manner for the safety consideration of the vehicleoccupants.

This invention comprises a circuit wherein the safety belts and/orshoulder harness carry electrical conductors which terminate withconnectors adapted to be joined to complete an electric conductionmeans. The circuit and system connects relays in one of two methods; inone arrangement a latching relay is used and in the other arrangement astepping relay is used. In either mode it is required that the seat beltretractor for each seat belt in the vehicle and a switch under each seatof a car be a series connected so that latching relays established foreach seat position are activated each time a seat belt and/or shoulderharness is moved to operate the retractor and then relaxed to allow theretractor to return the belt and/or harness to the relaxed condition.These relays and the circuit contacts are sequenced by a latching or astepping relay to prevent the circumventing of the belt safety system bymerely leaving the seat belt and/or shoulder harness in a closedcondition on or behind the seat.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed toinsure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. Thisdisclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of apatent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matterhow it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions offurther improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specificcircuit of the seat belt system for automotive vehicles and in two modesis adapted for use with presently conformed seat belts and/or shoulderharness and showing a preferred means for the operation of the systemusing a relay system to insure the proper use of the belts. Thisspecific embodiment, as shown in two arrangements of relays, has beenchosen for the purpose of illustration and description as shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a circuit diagram of a safety seat belt circuit andshows the circuit for two seats of a vehicle, said circuit using alatching relay to insure that a prescribed sequence is followed beforeengine starting can be accomplished;

FIG. 2 represents a fragmentary portion of the circuit diagram of FIG. 1and shows the position of the contacts in a latching relay with apassenger sitting in the seat and without the seat belt being fastened;

FIG. 3 represents the fragmentary portion of the circuit diagram of FIG.2 with the seated passenger now having the seat belt fastened;

FIG. 4 represents the fragmentary portion of the circuit of FIG. 3 andshows the position of the contacts when the passenger has placed himselfin the seat while and when the seat belt has remainded fastened from theprevious use of the seat, and

FIG. 5 represents an alternate circuit diagram like the circuit of FIG.1 but with a stepping relay used instead of the latching relay forprogramming the use sequence of the driver's seat.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience. These names, however, areintended to be generic in their application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to like members throughout the several figures of thedrawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdisclose certain details for the purpose of explanation of theinvention, but it should be understood that details may be modified invarious respects without depature from the concept and principles of theinvention and that the circuit and components shown may be incorporatedin other circuits than that shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT PREFERRED CIRCUIT OF FIG. 1

Referring now in particular to the seat belt safety system as depictedin FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred circuit in which a logicaloperational sequence of "buckling up" must be accomplished before thevehicle in which the system is installed can be started. From a storagebattery 10 positive (plus) current is fed through conductor 12 to ajunction 13 which feeds the plus side contact 14 of a momentary startswitch. Bar 15 is disposed to be pushed into engagement with bothcontact 14 and an open side contact 16. From junction 13 the plusvoltage also leads to the plus contact 18 and blade portion 19 of theignition switch 20. Contact 16 represents the open or other sideconnection of the momentary start switch 15 from which the plus voltageis fed through conductor 23 to open contact 25 of a retractor device 27.The retractor includes a cam plate 28 which cam plate as the retractoris actuated is rotated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwisedirection. The plate cam is shown with its lobe position on when theretractor is in the relaxed condition and with bar 29 in conductingrelationship with both contacts 30 and 31. A conductor 33 connectscontact 30 with a contact 35 of a retractor device 36 which is similarto, if not identical with, the retractor device 27. This retractordevice 36 has a cam plate 38 which is rotated in either a clockwise or acounterclockwise direction. The cam plate 38 is shown its lobepositioned as when with the retractor in the relaxed condition and witha bar 40 in current conducting relationship with contact 35 and acontact 41.

Referring again to the retractor device 27, and open conductor bar 43 isconnected to contact 44 and from said contact a conductor 46 leads toand is attached to a contact 47 and an attached conductor bar 48. Acontact 50 is attached to conductor 52 attached to a contact 54 inlatching relay 55. This contact 54 is attached to conductor bar 56.

From contact 41 a conductor 58 leads to an open contact in a seat switch60. This switch has a conductor bar 62 attached to contact 63 connectedto the plus side of battery 10 while the other end of conductor bar 62is in engagement with contact 64. The seat switch 60 is actuated by thedownward movement of a plunger 66 when this driver seat is occupied.From contact 64 a conductor 68 carries current to a contact 69 inlatching relay 55. From contact 31 to a conductor 71 carries current toa contact 72 in latching relay 55. A conductor bar 74 is attached tocontact 75 which is connected by lead 76 to the latching magnet 77. Froma contact 80 a conductor 81 leads to a junction 82 from whence conductor84 leads to a contact 85 in a retractor device 86 which is similar to orlike retractors 27 and 36. Also leading from junction 82 is conductor 88which is connected at 89 to a conductor bar 90 in engagement with acontact 91 of a three-pole switch 92. This switch is the seat weightdetecting switch activated by a plunger 94 attached to the seat andmoved downwardly by the weight of a passenger.

The upper pole of the three pole switch 92 is fed plus voltage to acontact 95 from the battery 10 by a conductor, not shown. A conductorbar 96 carries this current to either contact 97 or contact 98 whenthere is a weight in the seat to move plunger 94 downwardly.

From contact 98 a conductor 99 extends to a contact 100 which, as shown,is in contact with a conductor bar 102 of the retractor 86. Thisconductor bar is attached to contact 103 which carries current byconductor 104 to a contact 106 of a retractor 108 which is likeretractors 86, 36 and 27. A cam plate member 110 of the retractor 86engages conductor bar 102 or a conductor bar 112 during its two extremesof rotational movement. Bar 112 is pivotally connected to contact 114and from this contact a conductor 115 is series connected to contact 116attached to conductor bar 117 shown in open condition in retractor 108.A cam plate 118, as shown, has conductor bar 120 in a closed or currentcarrying condition with a contact 122 while contact 123 is in opencondition with the conductor bar 117, as shown.

From contact 122 current is fed through conductor 125 to an engagedcontact 126 of a latching relay 128 which is like relay 55above-identified. From contact 123 a conductor 130 carries current toopen contact 131 of relay 128. A conductor bar 133 connected to contact134 is shown as in contact with the contact 126. The contact 134 isattached to lead 135 which is associated with the latching magnet 136 ofrelay 128. A conductor bar 138 is in open condition with contact 131 andis connected to contact 140 which is connected to a conductor 141 whichends at a terminal 143. A contact 145 is in open condition withconductor bar 133 which is connected to lead 146 which is connected tocontact 97 in the three-pole switch associated with the passengerseating or loading.

From junction 143 a conductor 148 leads to an end 149 of a coil 150associated with the holding magnet 152 of a holding relay 154. From aground and a starter solenoid 156 a conductor 157 leads to a contact 158of the holding relay 154. A conductor bar 160 is in open condition withcontact 158 and is connected to contact 161 which is connected by lead162 to junction 163 which permits a tap-off of the current throughconductor 23. End 165 of coil 150 is attached to lead 166 and tojunction 168. From junction 168 a lead 169 extends to junction 170. Abuzzer 172 is attached to junction 170 and at its other end to ground. Aresistor 174 of a determined capacity is attached to junction 170 and tocontact 21.

From junction 168 the ground side of the circuit is carried by conductor175 to junction 177 from whence flexible lead 178 extends to theconnection end 180 of a seat belt member 182 as represented by thedashed outline. Also from the junction 177 a conductor 184 leads tocontact 185 in engagement with the lowermost pole of switch 92. Thislower pole is represented by conducting bar 186 which is in turnattached to contact 188 which is serially attached to conductor 190. Theleft end of conductor 190 is attached to junction 191 from whichflexible lead 192 extends to the connecting terminal end 194 of seatbelt half 195 shown in dashed outline.

From junction 191 a conductor 197 extends to connection 198 which isattached to flexible lead 200 extending to the connecting end 202 of theright-hand seat belt member 203 as represented also by dashed outline. Aleft-hand seat belt portion 205, also shown in dashed outline, has aconnecting end 206 of a flexible lead 208 extending to connection 210representing attachment to ground.

Use and Operation of the Circuit of FIG. 1.

In the use and operation of the seat and shoulder harness safety systemas shown in FIG. 1, it is contemplated that neither the driver norpassenger has entered the vehicle and that the retractors of the seatbelts and shoulder harnesses are in a relaxed and open condition. Uponthe driver entering the vehicle and placing himself on the driver'sseat, the plunger 66 is moved downwardly to cause the seat switch 60 tobe actuated. Conductor bar 62 is moved from contact 64 to contact 59.Assuming that each seat is equipped with both seat belts and separateshoulder harness, the driver "buckles up" by connecting belt portion 205to portion 203. This causes retractor 36 to be rotated clockwise tobring the cam 38 from engagement with bar 40 to conductor bar 48. Whenthe shoulder harness, not shown, is connected, the retractor 27 isrotated clockwise to move the lobe of cam plate 28 from closingengagement of the bar 29 to closing engagement of the bar 43. Assumingthat there is no passenger in place, the retractors 86 and 108 andthree-pole switch 92 will stay in the condition shown in FIG. 1. Thedriver now buckled up inserts a key into the ignition switch 20 and,with the turning of the key, the contact bar 15 is moved from thecondition of FIG. 1 to engage contacts 14 and 16 so that a plus voltageflows to starting relay 154. With pulling conductor bar 160 inengagement with contact 158, current flows through closed conductor bar160 to the starter solenoid 156 of the vehicle. Starter solenoid 156 isenergized and the engine is turned over and hopefully started. If thedriver decides to remove the shoulder harness or unbuckle the seat belt,either of which disconnects the established ground through conductor175, the positive current flowing through blade 19 will cause the buzzer172 to sound since a ground line is established through resistor 174 andbuzzer 172.

When the driver unbuckle and leaves the vehicle the released plunger 66by a biasing means not shown, is moved upward to cause conductor bar 62to again move to contact 64 and a plus voltage to flow to contact 69 ofthe latching relay 55 which at that time was in contact with conductor74. This causes a plus voltage to flow and energize magnet 77, causingthe relay to move conductor bars 56 and 74 to the position shown. When adriver re-enters a car and seats himself, the plunger 66 moves conductorbar 62 to engage contact 59 and a plus voltage to flow to contact 41.If, and providing that, the driver returned his seat belt and shoulderharness to the uncoupled and relaxed condition, the retractor cam plates28 and 28 are as shown. A plus voltage will flow to conductor bar 40 andbar 29 thence to contact 72 and then through bar 74 to energize relay 55and cause a position to be taken which is opposite that shown. When thedriver "buckles up" and "hooks up" the seat belt a ground is establishedthrough conductors 208 and 200, thence switch 92 and then conductors 184and 175 to relay 154. Conductor bars 43 and 48 are connected to contacts25 and 50 so that when the key is turned a plus voltage flows throughcontact bar 15 and closed conductor bars 43 and 48. This plus voltageflows through bar 56 which is now in contact with contact 80 thenthrough conductors 81 and 88 and with no passenger in the seat toactuate plunger 94 through closed conductor bar 90 and conductor 148 andplaces a plus voltage on holding relay 154 and conductor bar 160 toclose and energize the starter solenoid.

If a passenger is in the car with the driver, the passenger's weightcauses plunger 94 to "make" conductor bar 96 with contact 98; to "break"conductor bar 90 from contact 91 and conductor bar 186 to "break" fromcontact 185. By "breaking" bar 90 and contact 91 plus voltage fromconductor 88 cannot go to the relay magnet 152 but does flow fromjunction 82 to contact 85. Providing the passenger seat belt andshoulder retractors were restored to the relaxed condition the last timethe vehicle was used, the plus voltage on conductor bar 96 flows through98 of the three-pole underneath passenger switch 92 and then throughconductor 99, contact 100, bar 102, conductor 104, bar 120, conductor125, bar 133 and the magnet 136 to energize the relay 128 and cause itto set opposite, as shown.

Now when the passenger fastens his seat belts 195 and 182 and theshoulder harness, the retractors are rotated so that the cam plates 110and 118 "make" contacts 85 and 123, allowing a plus voltage suppliedfrom the driver's relay 55 to flow from junction 82 to flow throughconductor bar 112, conductor 115, bar 117, conductor 130, bar 138,conductor 141 and 148 to holding relay 154. Now with the passenger seatbelt and shoulder harness connected as in FIG. 3, the ground fromconnection 210 flows to and through conductor 175 to the magnet in relay150 enabling the starter solenoid 156 to be energized asabove-described.

If, after starting the engine of the vehicle, either the seat belt ofthe passenger or driver is unbuckled (unhooked) the ground lead 175 isbroken and will cause a plus voltage to flow to and through the buzzer172. If the seat belt is left fastened or is refastened, the buzzer issilent or will cease to sound.

For simplification, only a driver's seat and a single passenger's seatsystem is shown in FIG. 1. Any number of passenger seats may be addedusing a series circuit following from and each using a relay such as128, retractors 108 and 86 and a three-pole switch 92. The groundingcircuit, which may be used with a shoulder harness strap, has not beenshown but where desired or required would be in series with thegrounding circuit.

Fragmentary Circuit of FIG. 2

Referring now to the fragmentary circuit shown in FIG. 2, thepassenger's seat latching relay system is shown with a passenger sittingin the seat without the seat belt being fastened. A plus voltage fromconductor bar 96 to contact 98, through conductor bar 102 of retractor86 and conductor bar 120 of retractor 108 to conductor bar 133 oflatching relay 128 causes the contacts to change position and then stayin that position until it receives a subsequent plus voltage from switch92 through contact 97, to contact 145 of latching relay 128, throughconductor bar 133 which will cause relay 128 to change position onceagain.

Fragmentary Circuit of FIG. 3

Referring now to the fragmentary circuit as shown in FIG. 3, thepassenger's seat latching relay system is shown with a passenger sittingin the seat and with the seat belt extended and connected to provide aground connection between conductors 190 and 175. The retractors 86 and108 are extended to cause conductor bars 112 and 117 to move toconducting relationship so that the plus voltages from conductor 88 arefed through conductor to and through bars 112 and 117 to fed a plusvoltage to the relay 154, not shown in this fragmentary circuit.

Fragmentary Circuit of FIG. 4

Referring now to the fragmentary circuit as shown in FIG. 4, thepassenger's seat latching relay system is shown with a passenger sittingin the seat with the belt fastened behind the seat from the time before.The plus voltage from conductor 88 and the driver's seat relay cannotget through because conductor bar 138 is open with contact 126 of relay128. The plus voltage from contact 95 in switch 95 cannot reach relay154 since both conductor bar 120 and bar 102 are respectively open withcontact 122 and contact 100. Until both the seat belt and shoulderharness retractors are returned to open condition, the relay 128 cannotbe reset.

The circuit sequence, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, is typical of allseats, including the drivers, in which either a seat belt and/orshoulder harness means is to be employed.

Alternate Circuit of FIG. 5

Referring finally to FIG. 5 and the circuit depicted therein, thelatching relay 55 of FIG. 1 has been deleted in favor of a steppingrelay 250 having an energizing magnet 252 adapted to move a travelingcontact bar along a track to sequentially bring contacts 1, 2, 3 and 4into engagement with conductor B and finally contact 5. At the same timea like traveling contact bar engages and is stepped along conductor A tofinally engage contact 6. Before the driver places himself on the seatto move plunger 66, a plus pulse is fed from the relaxed retractors 27and 36 to and through conductor 260 to contact 1 which will feed apositive pulse to conductor B and to energizing magnet 252. Thetraveling contact bars are moved to position 2. When the driver placeshimself in the seat, a pulse is fed by conductor 262 to contact 2. Thiscauses the energizing magnet 252 to be actuated to move the travelingcontacts bars to position 3. When the retractors 27 and 36 are extendedby the "buckling up" of the seat and a shoulder harness, a pulse is fedto and through conductor 264 to junction 82 whereat the pulse willsample both switch 92 and retractors 86 and 108 to insure that if apassenger is present he also is properly "buckled up." If there is nopassenger, a plus current will flow through line 266 to junction 268 andconductor 270 to contact 3 which will cause energizing magnet 252 tomove the traveling contact bar to cause contacts 4 and 5 to beconductive and feed a ground through conductor 272 from connection 210through 186 conductor bar to connection 177 through conductor 267closing relay 154 and permitting the vehicle to be started by keyingswitch 20. When the driver leaves the car, conductor bar 62 of driver'sswitch 60 is moved to the condition shown whereby from contact 64 apulse is fed through conductor 274 to contact 6 where, from thetraveling conductor, feeds a pulse through bar A to cause the steppingrelay to be reset for a repeat of the cycle.

As in FIG. 1, the seat belts and shoulder harness must be connected anddisconnected in a prescribed completion or else a ground is notfurnished and the relays are not set to bring the vehicle ignitionsystem into a condition for starting.

In all the above arrangements, the retractors must be extended andrelaxed or else the starter solenoid will not operate. Also the beltscannot be left in a connected condition to circumvent the necessity of"buckling up" whenever the vehicle is to be used. The circuits of FIGS.1 and 5 show no conductor for the shoulder belts to provide a circuitcontinuation of the ground conductors provided by hooking up the seatbelts. The relays 55 and 128, although preferably latching relays, mayalso be bistable relays if desired and solid state switching equivalentsmay be provided as alternates providing equal switching paths. It isonly necessary that the relay means associated with the retractor bestable until actuated to an opposite setting by a subsequent pulse.

"Relay logic" as used in the following claims is intended to apply to arelay which is pulsed to move the relay from one state to a second statewhereat it is maintained until moved to another or its first state by anext pulse. Either a latching or a bi-stable relay having thesecharacteristics may be used for relays 55 and 128 in FIG. 1 and relay128 in FIG. 5. One of these relays is ued with each seat switch whichincludes that for the driver. In FIG. 5, stepping relay 250 is used forrelay 55 and is also pulse actuated and as it advances from step to stepchecks the circuit of each seat circuit to insure proper connectionsthereof rather than use the less expensive series circuit of FIG. 1.

Potter and Brumfield relays (TM of AMF) as shown and supplied by TexasInstrument Supply, 4 Nevada Drive, Lake Success, Long Island, New York,11040, in their Catalog printed in 1969 shows such relays on page 237.

For example, latching relays of the "FL series" or "TL series" may beused. Bistable type relays (1 form C) may also be substituted for thelatching relays numbers 55 and 128. Stepping relays are shown andidentified as "GMIN" Series and may be used for relay 250 of FIG. 5.

It is to be noted that the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Part571, Docket 69- 7, Notice 16, Department of Transportation, OccupantCrash Protection requires only that seat belt retractors be extendedfour inches rather than "buckling up." If compliance with thisrequirement is made and a conducting path through the seat belt is notdesired, a ground path actuated by the retractor may be provided andconnected to point 168. Although the circuit, so altered, will comply anessential safety feature of requiring the belts to be buckled is lost.

A light indicator or other signaling device may be provided in thecircuit if desired. As they are well known in the art they are notincluded in the exemplified circuits disposed to provide only the foolproof sequence of "buckling up."

Terms such as "left" "right" "up" "down" "bottom" "top" "front" "back""in", "out" "clockwise" "counterclockwise" and the like are applicableto the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings.These terms are merely for the purposes of description and do notnecessarily apply to the position in which the seat belt circuits may beconstructed or used.

While a particular circuit of the seat belt system for automotivevehicles and an alternate circuit has been shown and described, it is tobe understood the invention is not limited thereto since modificationsmay be made within the scope of the accompanying claims and protectionis sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat belt system for automotive vehicles andthe like in which there is provided a plurality of seat belts arrangedas pairs with each seat belt having at least one retractor providing aportion of an interlock system requiring said seat belt to be extendedafter the seat is occupied in order to permit the vehicle's startersolenoid to be actuated by a current supplied by a battery carried insaid vehicle, said system including: (a) a plurality of seat beltsarranged as pairs, one pair of belts for the driver and the other pairsfor potential passengers with each pair positioned and secured to thevehicle so as to accommodate one occupant when seated on a seat of thevehicle; (b) at least one retractor associated with each seat belt pairand adapted to retain one of said belts of the pair, said retractorsecured to the vehicle so that said associated seat belt when moved toand from an extended condition causes a cam operatively connected tosaid retractor to separately engage one of a pair of switches associatedtherewith so that with the retractor in repose condition a first switchis closed and the second switch is open and when the retractor is movedto the extended condition the moved cam disengages from engagement withthe first switch which opens while the moved cam engages the secondswitch and causes it to be closed; (c) an ignition relay having a switchwhich is actuated by a holding coil which when energized closes saidswitch and establishes a conductive circuit from the vehicle battery tothe starter solenoid; (d) a starter logic including a key-operatedignition switch and the ignition relay, said starter logic beingactuated when the key is turned and to an electrical current to be fedfrom said ignition switch to the driver's seat retractor and from thisretractor only when the retractor is extended to cause the firstassociated switch to be opened and the second associated switch to beclosed, and in the absence of additional passengers said electricalcurrent to be conducted to one side of said ignition relay coil, saidelectrical current at the same time being fed to the second switch ofthe next passenger's seat belt retractor; (e) a plurality of seatswitches carried by the vehicle and associated with the seat so that oneof said seat switches is associated with each seat belt pair and theretractor used with the belt pair; (f) a plurality of relay logics withan individual logic being exclusively actuated by each associated seatswitch, each of said relay logics having two electrically actuatedstates, the first state being effective when said seat in unoccupied andthe second state being effective when said seat is occupied said secondstate establishing a circuit between said second switch of the retractorand ignition relay holding coil, said logic returnable to its firststate only when the seat again becomes unoccupied, each seat switchbeing actuated by the weight of an occupant on the seat immediatelyabove to open one switch portion thereof and by closing a second switchto transfer a voltage to said relay logic through said retractor, andwith the absence of an occupant the switch returns to its "at rest"condition with the voltage sent through the first switch and with thesecond switch moving to open condition; (g) an audible signal having afirst side connected to a battery source and the other to a groundsource, the first side being connected when the ignition switch isclosed; (h) a conductive circuit from a ground source to the audiblesignal and ground side of the ignition relay coil, said conductivecircuit being established only when the seat belts to all occupied seatsare connected, this circuit when connected providing a conductive pathto the ground side of the ignition relay coil to energize this coil andclose the relay switch to energize the starter solenoid, said circuitalso connected to the first side of the audible signal and whenconductive renders the signal ineffective, this circuit including aby-pass switch associated with each passenger seat switch, the seatswitch of the driver having no by-pass switch, said by-pass switch beingnormally closed to provide a conductive path portion of the circuituntil opened by the weight of a passenger on the switch, and (i) aseries circuit extending from the driver's seat switch and retractor tothe associated relay logic, said circuit connected to the retractorswitch and associated logic so that the actuation of a seat switch withthe retractor in its "at rest" condition will move the associated relaylogic from its "at rest" state to its second state by a voltage fed toand through the actuated seat switch and through the closed first switchof the retractor to the relay logic, the relay logic remaining in thisstate during the occupation of the seat and connecting of the associatedseat belt, and with the ground conductive circuit estabished by theconnecting of the associated seat belt of each occupied seat toestablish a conductive path around the opened by-pass switch of eachoccupied seat, the disconnection of any seat belt of an occupied seatcausing a discontinuance of the ground circuit and actuation of theaudible signal, and when the occupant leaves the seat the switch isclosed to feed a voltage to the relay logic to reset this logic to itsfirst "at rest" state.
 2. A seat belt system as in claim 1 in which therelay means associated with each of the seats is a latching relay.
 3. Aseat belt system as in claim 1 in which the relay means associated withthe driver's seat and retractor is a stepping relay.
 4. A seat beltsystem as in claim 1 in which the retractors are moved rotatablyclockwise and counterclockwise with and against a tension means and thecam carried thereby is attached to the retractor and is moved therewithto engage only one of the two switches when the retractor is at one ofthe two extremes of retractor movement.
 5. A seat belt system as inclaim 1 in which the seat switch for the driver is a single-poledouble-throw switch actuated by a spring-biased plunger attached to aportion of the seat and the seat switches for all possible passengeroccupied seats are three-pole, double-throw switches actuated by aspring-biased plunger attached to a portion of the seat.
 6. A seat beltsystem as in claim 1 in which each occupant seat space has tworetractors associated with a seat switch, each retractor having a camdisposed to actuate at its two extremes of movement only one of twoswitches associated with the retractor, the first switches of theseretractors being series connected in one circuit and the second switchesof the retractors being series connected in a second circuit so that thetwo retractors, to render the audible signal ineffective must be used toprovide a like arrangement of the cams and switches in both retractors.7. A seat belt system as in claim 6 in which the seat belt pairs haveconductive means carried therein and end connectors disposed to beengaged to provide the conductible path through the connected pair ofbelts.
 8. A seat belt system as in claim 1 in which the audible signalis a buzzer. .Iadd.
 9. A control and indicator system for use with amotor vehicle provided with a source of direct current, a startercircuit, an ignition circuit, an ignition switch actuable from anormally open position to a START position connecting said source tosaid starter circuit and said ignition circuit and biased to return fromsaid START position to a RUN position connecting said source to saidignition circuit, seat occupancy responsive switch means and seat beltin-use responsive switch means, said control and indicator systemcomprising:first logic means connected with said seat switch means andsaid seat belt switch means for producing a START logic level outputwhen and only when said seat occupancy responsive switch means areactuated prior to actuation of said seat belt in-use responsive switchmeans, said logic means producing a START logic level output when saidseat belt in-use responsive switch means are deactuated or when saidseat occupancy responsive switch means are deactuated, second logicmeans connected with said first logic means and said starter andignition circuit for producing a START logic level output in response toactuation of said ignition switch to said START position subsequent toproduction of said START logic level output from said first logic means,third logic means for controlling energization of said starter circuitand permitting energization of said starter circuit only in response tosaid START logic level output of said second logic means, visualindicator means, audible indicator means, fourth logic means responsiveto the output of said first logic means for energizing said indicatormeans in response to said START logic level output of said first logicmeans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 10. A control and indicator system for use witha motor vehicle provided with a source of direct current, a startercircuit, an ignition circuit, an ignition switch actuable from anormally open position to a START position connecting said source tosaid starter circuit and said ignition circuit and biased to return fromsaid START position to a RUN position connecting said source to saidignition circuit, seat occupancy responsive switch means and seat beltin-use responsive switch means, said control and indicator systemcomprising:first logic means connected with seat switch means and saidseat belt switch means for producing a START logic level output when andonly when said seat occupancy responsive switch means are actuated priorto actuation of said seat belt in-use responsive switch means, saidfirst logic means producing a START logic level output when said seatbelt in-use responsive switch means are deactuated or when said seatoccupancy responsive switch means are deactuated, second logic meansnormally producing said START logic level output, but actuable toproduce a said START logic level output in response to a START logiclevel output from said first logic means, third logic means forpermitting energization of said starter circuit in response to saidSTART logic level output of said second logic means, visual indicatormeans connected to said source when said ignition switch is in said RUNposition, audible indicator means connected to said source in parallelwith said ignition switch, fourth logic means responsive to the outputof said first logic means for energizing said visual and audibleindicator means in response to said START logic level output of saidfirst logic means..Iaddend.